On Friday, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Commerce regarding her refusal to share critical documents related to the Committee’s ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct by her.
The Committee began the investigation of IG Peggy Gustafson in April. On June 6, Lucas and Lofgren sent IG Gustafson a letter requesting documents related to this investigation and gave her a deadline of June 20 to respond. Nearly a month later, the Committee has yet to receive key documents as the Office of the Inspector General comes to a decision regarding the assertion of privilege over these documents.
“Your office failed to produce all of the relevant documents and communications, including certain documents that are being withheld pending your decision to assert privilege[s],” Lucas and Lofgren wrote, noting that Congress does not recognize common law privileges regarding document requests from federal agencies. “Additionally, the Committee was disturbed to learn that you intentionally disclosed the identity of the whistleblower whose allegations against you and others this Committee is investigating.”
After IG Gustafson shared the document request sent by the Committee on June 7 and disclosed the identity of the whistleblower, the Committee requested that the IG immediately share the circumstances and extent of this disclosure.
“Due to...
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